Breeding Life Policy — Formal SOP

This Breeding Life Policy outlines the standards and procedures governing the ethical management, selection, evaluation, breeding, and retirement of all Stokeshire breeding dogs. It ensures alignment with:

• Purdue University’s Canine Care Certified™ (CCC) — Breeding Life & Retirement Pillar
• Wisconsin ATCP 16 — Dog Sellers & Dog Facility Operators
• USDA/APHIS — Animal Welfare Act Reproductive Care Expectations
• Stokeshire internal welfare standards for guardian-based breeding programs

This SOP applies to all breeding dogs owned by Stokeshire Designer Doodles, whether housed onsite or in approved guardian homes.

1. Breeding Eligibility & Approval

• Minimum age for breeding:
  • Dams: per attending veterinarian (typically 18–24 months and after first mature heat).
  • Sires: per attending veterinarian (typically ~12 months minimum with clearance).
• All breeding dogs must complete a Pre-Breeding Veterinary Examination including:
  • Full physical exam
  • Reproductive health evaluation
  • Weight/body condition score
  • Heart, joints, dentition
• Health & genetic testing requirements include:
  • DNA panel for inherited diseases (per breed mix)
  • OFA or PennHIP hip assessment
  • Elbow evaluation (OFA or equivalent)
  • Cardiac exam as recommended
  • Eye exam (CAER) if applicable
• Temperament prerequisites:
  • Stable, people-oriented, gentle, socially appropriate with other dogs
  • No patterns of aggression, reactivity, or chronic anxiety
  • Successful completion of Stokeshire temperament evaluations
• Final approval must be documented in the dog’s medical/breeding file.

2. Breeding Frequency & Limits

• Maximum litters per dam: 4–6 lifetime depending on individual health, genetics, and size.
• Breeding intervals:
  • No back-to-back breedings without explicit veterinarian approval.
  • Required rest period following any complicated whelping.
• Dams or sires may be temporarily or permanently removed from the program for:
  • Poor recovery
  • Behavioral concerns
  • Emerging genetic risk factors
  • Any condition compromising welfare
• Breeding beyond recommended thresholds is prohibited without written veterinary justification.

3. Genetic Diversity & COI Management

• Stokeshire monitors the Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) for all planned litters.
• Target COI percentages align with:
  • Hybrid vigor objectives for Doodles & Australian Mountain Dogs
  • CCC guidelines for genetic sustainability
• High-risk pairings (> recommended COI thresholds) require:
  • Written veterinary review
  • Breeder justification
  • Documented approval in breeding log

4. Pre-Breeding Preparation

• Heat tracking must be logged with:
  • Start date
  • Behavior changes
  • Progesterone levels (if tested)
• Dams must maintain optimal body condition (4–5/9).
• Guardian families must notify Stokeshire at the first sign of heat.
• All breeding pairings are planned and documented in:
  • Breeding Calendar
  • Stokeshire Glide Breeding Dashboard

5. Whelping & Neonatal Care

• Dams return to Stokeshire headquarters by Day 52 of gestation (Guardian Contract requirement).
• Whelping occurs only in approved, sanitized, climate-controlled whelping rooms.
• Neonatal monitoring includes:
  • Weight checks twice daily (Days 0–7)
  • Daily temperature/respiratory checks
  • Colostrum intake verification
• Puppy care follows the Stokeshire Method + BAB curriculum + ENS/ESI.
• Complications trigger immediate veterinarian contact.

6. Removal From Program

Dogs may be retired early due to:

• Whelping complications
• Chronic stress in maternal care
• Reactivity or temperament shifts
• Genetic health discoveries
• Orthopedic deterioration

All removal decisions are made in consultation with Stokeshire’s attending veterinarian.
Welfare overrides all breeding objectives.

7. Recordkeeping & Documentation

• Each breeding dog maintains a Breeding Summary Sheet documenting:
  • Heat cycles
  • Breeding dates
  • Whelp dates
  • Litter size
  • Complications, if any
  • Maternal behavior notes
• All data stored in:
  • Stokeshire Compliance Console (Glide App)
  • Google Drive Breeding Folder

8. Alignment With Retirement Policy

Breeding life planning must be integrated with Stokeshire’s Retirement Policy to ensure predictable, humane transitions for every breeding dog.

Last Updated

November 21, 2025

This SOP is reviewed annually or when veterinary or regulatory recommendations change.